Genevive Chamblee's Blog, page 55

In the Kitchen

Today, I must begin with a personal tale of humor and woe.

Several years ago, the first of what became to be a series of cough medicine commercials became popular. The content was a man talking about feeling like he’s a death’s door and needing a sick day. It’s later revealed that he’s speaking over a crib to his infant child. The hook line, of course, is that no parent ever takes a sick day and the cough medicine will prevent that from being a necessity. At the moment, I’m very in agreement with needing a sick day.

Friday, I attended a high school football game. Now, anyone who knows me knows I love me some football—just not high school football. Let’s just say I have issues with lots of things around how the team I’m there to support is conducted. And although, I’m a serious SEC girl who can talk mega smack, somehow the rules of high school football seem…different. I always thought in order to it to be considered a touchdown, the player must cross into the end zone/goal line with the ball. Obviously, not so in high school football when I witness a receiver who ran for 45 yards before losing the ball (the pigskin football that is for the refs who are obviously unfamiliar with the object) on the six-yard line. The ball slipped from its neatly tucked hole beneath the receiver’s arm when he turned to taunt the defensive player chasing him in vain. Not only was the taunting penalty not called, but by the time the receiver crossed into the end zone, the ball had bounced rolled to the twelve-yard line. Yet, this was a touchdown. The sad part about this was the team who was awarded that “touchdown” was so far ahead, aside from the second coming of Our Lord, there was no way the other team could win. Thus, the bad call was truly in poor taste and appeared to be done deliberately to help make the shutout game even more humiliating for the losing team. And parents and fans who yelled their displeasure over the call were uncourteously escorted from the game by the city’s finest because the fans are only to be seen and not heard. A strong warning is issued prior to the game, not to criticize the referees, because they are “professionals”. Whatever. But I digress.

My point is, I’m rarely happy on a Friday night after being stuck in the stands for two hours watching what I considered to be a really boring imitation of football. As I sit there, I always hear Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy looping in my head. “Ma ma ma mama said foos-ball is dee devil”. Maybe there’s something wrong with my medulla oblongata for trying to understand it.

So anyway, to cheer myself up afterward, I decided to make a spontaneous visit to my mother’s house. From the previous week, the temperature had warmed up nicely (in the mid ro upper seventies to mid-eighties) with lows in the upper sixties. This was a stark contrast to the week before when temperatures had dipped into the thirties. Yes, you know most Southerners don’t do well in the cold, and that thirty degrees may as well have been thirty below. But that’s all beside the point.

As I mentioned, the weather was nice—or, at least, it was when I set out on my trip. However, once I arrived and opened my car door (literally), the heavens cackled, opened up, and nearly drowned me. Okay, so maybe drowning is an over exaggeration, but there was a significant downpour. Despite calling my mother’s phone, ringing the doorbell, and knocking, there was no answer. So, there I was: stuck on the front porch getting soaked. Finally, the door opens, and I’m allowed entry. Because the rain is so heavy, I leave my luggage in the trunk and opt to wear forgotten clothes tucked away in the closet from high school. They weren’t very comfortable and surely not fashionable, but they were dry. Since it’s late, I dry off with a towel, change, and head to bed. Before I’m snuggled beneath the covers, my right ear is throbbing and I can feel drainage. It is followed a short while later by an itchy throat. By morning, I’m congested, coughing, sneezing, and have a fountain pouring from my nose. Yes, I know: gross and TMI, but that’s my reality. I also had lost my voice. I try to tough it out, but the sneezing fits got to be too much, as I was sneezing in consecutive double digits. I maxed out at thirty-one, no joke. That’s when I retorted to OTC antihistamines, and everyone knows the side effects of those things—-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Eventually, three days later, I make my way into a doctor’s office where I’m promptly given two shots in the buttocks, prescribed an antibiotic and a cough medicine.

My cough was the least of my issues, and I wondered why the doctor has bothered to call it in. I told him, I just wanted to be dried up. Well, there’s a reason he’s a doctor and I’m not because apparently, he knew something I didn’t. In less than an hour after seeing him, everything in my head moved to my chest. Unfortunately, the cough syrup isn’t suppressing anything.

Now, you may be wondering at this point, what does any of this nonsense have to do with being Creole, and the answer is nothing. But it did get me thinking. I didn’t want to spend time slaving over a stove while sick. I needed something easy and quick. Then, it hit me: red beans and rice.

Red beans and rice has been a part of Creole culture for over two hundred years. However, experts and historians cannot agree on when the recipe first entered Creole culture. They also cannot agree on the original recipe or preparation of the dish. Another area that remains uncertain is the original recipe. There are hundreds of ways to prepare it, as no two recipes are the same. But before delving into the preparation, it is important

Red beans and rice is a staple, comfort food in many Creole homes. It remains a typical meal prepared/cooked on Mondays. According to historical accounts, the tradition of red beans and rice on Mondays began due to Mondays being the day most people did their laundry. Since the preparation is simple and the meal being both scrumptious and fulfilling, it is easy to understand why quickly became a favorite. In an age when women typically prepared the family meals and did the laundry, red beans and rice were able to mix the ingredients and allow it to cook all day while the laundry was being done. It also can feed large families for a relatively small cost.

The following recipe is the one my family has used for years. As with many Creole recipes, this one involves many ingredients. There are others that are much simpler to prepare and cheaper.

4 bay leaves
 
2 tbs onion powder
 
½ tbs canola oil


2 tbs kosher salt
 
1½ tsp oregano
 
1 tbs butter


2 tbs black pepper
 
2 tbs paprika
 
10 oz crushed tomatoes


1 tbs white pepper
 
1½ tbs sage
 
1 lb kidney beans (or Creole red beans)


1 tsp cayenne
 
1 ½ tsp thyme
 
1 ham hock


2 tbs basil
 
1 Spanish onion
 
1 lb andouille sausage (cubed)


2 bay leaves
 
3 stalks celery ribs
 
2 cups chicken stock (or broth)


½ tsp celery salt
 
3 cloves garlic
 
3 cups rice


 

2 tbs garlic powder
 
1 green bell pepper (seeded)
 
 

I usually start by placing my kidney beans in the slow cooker and allow them to soak there overnight. However, sometimes, if I know that they’ll be cooking more than ten hours, I’ll skip this step. Also, if it’s a shorter cooker time Blue Runner has a canned creamed Creole red bean that I use instead of the dried beans. But for this recipe, I’ll focus on using the dried beans with a long cook time on a low crockpot setting.

After the beans have soaked, drain and add butter, canola oil, onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Allow to cook until the butter has melted. Stir. Add the spices (salt, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne, basil, celery salt, thyme, onion powder, paprika, sage, and oregano). Mix well. Add tomatoes and stir. Allow to cook for approximately five minutes. Add chicken stock and stir. Add ham hock, andouille, and bay leaves. Allow to cook 8 – 10 hours.

In a pot, cook rice as directed. Serve the red beans in a bowl with a scoop of rice atop. For an alternative method, sometimes, about an hour before I’m ready to serve, I add my uncooked rice to my crockpot. This allows the rice enough time to cook without becoming overly mushy.

So, there it is… how I went from high school football to the crud to red beans and rice. Turn in next Wednesday for a new blog post. Please feel free to leave a comment on this post or share your favorite version of this dish.

Continue to be on the watch for a special announcement that I will make later this month. If you haven’t already, follow me on Instagram or Facebook. Also, take a moment to visit my writing project page.

I’m continuing to take request for topics to be covered on Creole’s Bayou. A few that I have been requested are on the list, but they will require a little more time for me to write, as I want to be positive the subjects are handled properly.

A Glance into the Past

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of culture is “the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time; a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc.: a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business)”. Characteristics such as music, food, language, dress/clothing, art, religion, traditions, and social norms may remain explicit in one specific culture. Culture plays an important role in the way people of that culture think and live their daily lives. It also influences their attitudes and beliefs. Culture helps shape a person’s behavior, thinking, and personality. Diversity may be the spice of life, but culture is the spice of diversity.

Recognizing the importance of culture provides individuals and communities an easy way to identify, locate, and connect with others who share similar values and mindset. Creole culture is rich and lengthy. Most notably, people recognize the culture for its food and music. However, Creole culture also made a mark in literature. Today, in Creole Bayou, I focus on an important figure in Creole literary history: George Washington Cable.

George Washington Cable was born to George W. Cable, Sr. and Rebecca Boardman Cable on October 12, 1844, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He died on January 31, 1925, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cable’s parents’ families had moved to Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase and were wealthy members of New Orleans society. His father was from Pennsylvania and his mother from Indiana. George Sr. worked as a notary public, wholesale merchant, cotton speculator, and investor in steamboats. They also were slave owners. George Senior lost his wealth in bad investments and an economic downturn of the time, causing the family to struggle financially. When George Sr. died, George (the junior) was a teenager. He was forced to discontinue his private school education and find employment to help support the family. However, he continued to study on his own and taught himself French.

During the American Civil War, George served in the Confederate Army. He was nineteen years old when he enlisted as a private. While serving, he was shot in the arm. His time spent in the army, along with his extensive reading of the Bible, altered his views about the treatment of people of color and Louisiana society.

He contracted malaria/yellow fever struggled with the illness for two years. During that time, he began writing. In 1870, he began a career in journalism. George got his first writing job at the age of twenty-six. He secured a job with the New Orleans Picayune. He worked at the New Orleans Picayune from 1865 to 1879. Later, he was requested to submit stories to the Scribner’s Monthly. He eventually published six stories in the Scribner’s Monthly over the next three years. All of his stories published there became popular and critical successes. These stories subsequently were published in a collection in 1879 entitled Old Creole Days.

The topic of his stories mainly focused on antebellum New Orleans society and the struggle of Creoles of color with Anglo-Americans. These stories also had a romantic plot involving characters with persons of mixed race. However, he used these stories as vehicles to expose racial injustices and Jim Crow. Because of the social message his stories contained, his writings generated a great deal of controversy and was resented by many white Southerners. The content of Cable’s stories generated so much hostility towards George that he and his family moved to Northampton, Massachusetts in 1885. In 1888, he was elected a member of the Anerucab Antiquarian Society. After thirty years in Massachusetts, George moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where he died.

Quick Facts:

Name: George Washington Cable

Birthdate: October 12, 1884

Death date: January 31, 1925

Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana

Place of Death: St. Petersburg, Florida

Parents:

George W. Cable, Sr., father

Rebecca Boardman Cable, mother

Wives:

Louisa Stewart Bartlett (m. 1869 – 1904)

Eva Stenson (m. 1906 – 1923)

Hanna Cowing (m. 1923-1925)

Children:

George was the father of eight children.

Writing Credits:

The New Orleans Picayune (regular column)
“Sieur George” in Scribner’s Monthly (1873)
Old Creole Days (1879)
The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life (1880)
Madame Delphine(1881)
A commissioned essay for the 10th U.S. Census Bureau’s “Social Statistics of Cities.” (1884)
Sevier (1884)
“The Freedman’s Case in Equity” (1885)
“The Silent South” (1885)
Bonaventur (1888)
The Negro Question(1890)
Strange True Stories of Louisiana(1890)
The Busy Man’s Bible and How to Study and Teach It(1891)
A Memory of Roswell Smith(1892)
Famous Adventures and Prison Escapes of the Civil War(1893)
John March, Southerner(1894)
Strong Hearts(1899)
The Cavalier(1901)
Bylow Hill(1902)
Kincaid’s Battery(1908)
Possen Jone’ and Pere Raphael(1909)
The Amateur Garden(1914)
Gideon’s Band(1914)
The Flower of the Chapdelaines(1917)
Lovers of Louisiana (1918)

*In total, Cable published fourteen novels and collections of short fiction.

Odds and Ends

He was raised Presbyterian.
He attended Prytania Street Church where he became a deacon and worked in the mission school. He later became a superintendent of the mission Sunday school.
Served as a private in the Confederate Army
He grew unpopular because of his criticism of racial inequality of the time.
Most of his letters, manuscripts, and essays can be found at Tulane University in New Orleans and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

As always, if you have any comments or suggestions about this blog, please comment below. I would love to hear from you. Remember, new blogs are posted on Creole Bayou each Wednesday. Come again for a visit and see what is new. Also, watch for a special announcement coming soon.

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Awareness in the Bayou

Today, I take a slight detour from my usual type of post to discuss a cause near and dear to my heart: Breast Cancer Awareness.

October is celebrated as breast cancer awareness month, and pink ribbon banners are plastered on billboards, business windows, medical clinic entrances, school chain-link fences, and many more objects. Athletes wear pink on their uniforms and donate portions of their ticket sells towards finding a cure. There are tons of fundraising benefits, runs, and dances. There are television commercials, newspaper ads, internet icons, and radio advertisements all to remind women to get checked. Still, somehow, there remains no cure or prevention, and some women overlook or minimize the importance of monthly self-checks and having annual medical examinations.

Breast cancer is viewed as the type of mythical illness that “Oh, that won’t happen to me.” Yet, breast cancer has touched, in some way, nearly everyone. It has robbed us of mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, best friends, classmates, teachers, icons, neighbors, and more. Who at thirty thinks she will see a loved one murdered by this killer? I know I didn’t, but that is exactly what happened. One of my closest childhood friends lost her battle in less than a year of being diagnosed. She left behind two young boys who likely will have few memories of her. Several years later, I had a second classmate to be diagnosed with the disease and had to undergo surgery and months of chemotherapy.

The fact is, breast cancer is the most common invasive (spreads to other parts of the body) cancer in women. It is the second leading cancer death in women. (Lung cancer is first.) Over 40,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer this year, and over 250,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed. Breast cancer that is diagnosed late (stage four) has about a twenty-two percent chance of surviving an additional five years after a diagnosis is made. However, cancer that is detected early (stage zero or stage one) has nearly a one hundred percent survival rate.

Breast cancer does not discriminate. (And yes, that does mean it does not discriminate against Creole women.) It can occur in anyone—including men. So, women of all shapes, sizes, creeds, colors, national origins, ages, religions, and sexual orientations, please get checked. Perform self-examination monthly and have a mammogram performed annually (or as your doctor recommends).

For more information about breast cancer, visit the following sites:

bcrf.org
cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
breastcancer.org
webmd.com/breast-cancer/default.htm
komen.org
creolemagnoliacafe.com/tag/breast-cancer-survivor

Upcoming:

Here at Creole Bayou, it’s always a work in progress. Look for some major updates and exciting announcements that will be coming soon. Remember, if there is a particular topic you would like to see covered in the bayou, leave a message below or give me a shout at genevivechamblee@yahoo.com. I’d love to hear from you. Also, remember that each Wednesday, there is a new blog post. Next week, I plan to cover a topic that has been much requested, so please come back and visit again.

Banner Understanding

With all the talk about flags these days, I thought it was appropriate to discuss a flag not in the media currently. I’m referring to the Louisiana Creole flag. Yes, there is one for those who didn’t know, and many people don’t. Also, many who do, don’t know what each of its symbols means. If you’ve ever viewed this flag and wondered what the significance of one of its elements means, continue to read. This article briefly will provide a general understanding of the Louisiana Creole flag.

Ever heard of Joseph Hilton Bergeron (1939 – living), better known as Pete Bergeron? This former navy man, salesperson, and bilingual director of French Programs at KRVS Radio is the founder of Le Cajun Music Awards and Festival and the voice of the radio show Bonjour Louisiane. He also is the designer of the Louisiana Creole flag. He designed the flag in 1987. His sister, Delores Kay Conque, handstitched it.

C.R.E.O.L.E. Inc. is a nonprofit Creole heritage preservation organization based in Lafayette, Louisiana that seeks to identify, preserve, and promote various aspects of Creole culture (e.g., art, architecture, customs, dance, food, language, literature, and music). It was founded by John Broussard, Marlene Broussard, W. Paul Cluse, Mary Alice Drake, Geneva Phillips, and Herbert Wiltz. In 1995, Mr. Bergeron’s design was adopted by C.R.E.O.L.E. Inc. as the official Louisiana Creole flag.

The Louisiana Creole flag is composed of four sections. Representing French heritage is a white fleur de lis on a blue background. The history of the fleur de lis is extensive and deserves a post of its own, which I’ve done in my Flower Power post that can be found on this blog. The post takes an in-depth look at the fleur de lis’ history and meaning. On the Louisiana Creole flag, the fleur de list is located in the upper left quadrant.

The Mali Republic National (Le Drapeau du Mali) flag is located in the lower left quadrant. This flag is composed of three colors (green, gold, and red) in three vertical stripes of equal size. The colors are pan-African (relating to all people of African birth or descent). The green represents the fertility of the land while the gold symbolizes mineral wealth and purity. The red represents the blood shed in obtaining independence from France.

In the upper right quadrant is the Senegal Republic National (Le Drapeau Sénégal) flag. This flag is also tricolor (green, yellow, red) of three equal-sized vertical stripes. A five-pointed green star is located in the center of the yellow stripe. The green band represents progress, hope, and Islam. The yellow stripe represents natural wealth, and the red stripe symbolizes determination and sacrifice. Finally, the star represents hope and unity.

The lower right quadrant is comprised of the Tower of Castile. It is a gold castle on a red background. The Tower of Castile symbolizes the Kingdom Castile (Reino de Castilla) which was a large and powerful state on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. The Tower of Castile’s placement on the Louisiana Creole flag depicts Spanish Colonial heritage.

But wait. There is a fifth element to this flag that often is overlooked. The four quadrants are separated by a white space. However, this isn’t unintentional, and it isn’t a blank space. It actually is a white cross that represents the Christian faith.

Now, you may have noticed that throughout this post I’ve referred to the flag as the Louisiana Creole flag and not the Creole flag. There is a reason. There is a National Creole Flag that was designed by Lisa LaCour Bellow. This flag has a white background with a teal print.

There also exists a Creole National Heritage flag created by frenchcreoles.com. Its design is a multicolor background with an oak tree in the center. The upper left corner is a beige/light brown while the lower left corner is dark brown. These colors represent racial colors. There are three diagonal stripes that divide the beige/light brown from the dark brown. The first diagonal stripes (from left to right) is red. The red stripe represents Native American/Indian heritage. The next stripe is white. This represents European Heritage. The final stripe is black, and it represents African heritage. The oak tree intersects the three stripes. The tree symbolizes integrity and strength. Sometimes, this flag is seen with a fleur de lis in the upper left on the light brown/beige background and a white star in the lower right on the dark brown background. One or both of these symbols may be present. They also may be inverted (the fleur de lis on the dark brown and the white star on the beige/light brown). I also so a version that displayed two white stars (one on the beige/light brown and the other on the dark brown). I’m uncertain where the different variations originate, but these may have been proposed designs that have been circulated. In any case, the fleur de lis represents French heritage, and the white star represents American heritage.

Other Creole flags may also exist. If you know of any or have any comments please list them below in the comment section. Also, feel free to let me know what you think about this post and offer suggestions on what topics you would like to see discussed on Creole Bayou. I welcome all input and consider all suggestions. Some topics take longer for me to generate the post, but they are in a working file for later publication. Be sure to visit Creole Bayou again. A new post is made each Wednesday.

Comfort During Stormy Weather

Today, as I write this, I’m home with family and awaiting the impending arrival of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Nate. He’s disorganized and apparently confused about where he wants to go—or at least, he’s not telling anyone his plan. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings, and the governor has declared a state of emergency. Neither of those leaves me with a comforting feeling, but it’s a part of living in the area.

Hurricanes are known to be unpredictable and perform incredible feats. I’ve witnessed hurricane winds uproot a tree and hours later when the winds shift erect that same tree into the very spot it originated. Sounds impossible, but it’s not. And with hurricanes, it isn’t just the powerful winds. It’s the ocean surge, the flash flooding, spinoff tornados, and mudslides. It can be very nerve-wracking, especially for those who have experienced major hurricanes. Nate isn’t billed to be a major hurricane—at least, not yet—but that does not mean he shouldn’t be taken seriously. So, people are preparing as if he’s another Carmille, Katrina, or Irma and have their eyes to the sky. So, to make the wait a little easier, what better way than to cook comfort foods? For many, comfort foods are things like macaroni and cheese, chocolate, ice cream, pizza, or French fries. Here, it happens to be Shrimp Creole. Therefore, I’ve decided to share an old family recipe.

Shrimp Creole is a classic dish that originated in South Louisiana. There are more than a dozen recipes for it. The recipe I’m sharing today requires slightly more time to make than other recipes because it requires making everything from scratch. Substitutions can be made, of course, and it’s all suited for taste.

Before getting started, there are a few things to note. The dish requires two medium size bowls, a medium size pot, and a large saucepan. The thickness of the saucepan will alter the cooking time. The thicker the saucepan the longer the dish will need to cook. The thinner the saucepan, the more stirring that will be required. I’m a stirrer, and I suggest stirring frequently during cooking to avoid sticking, over-caramelizing, and evenly distributing the flavors throughout the dish. Again, substitutions can be made, and some ingredients can be omitted according to taste. Keep in mind that shrimp is the star of this dish. That means the quality of shrimp used can make or break this dish. Fresh shrimp is the best. (Personal opinion Gulf of Mexico shrimp is premium.) However, many people use frozen shrimp for a variety of reason, and frozen shrimp can work very, too. It’s also suggested to use fresh tomatoes but canned will do.

Now, with all the disclaimers out of the way, here is what you’ll need. The list is fairly extensive, and, in all fairness, that isn’t uncommon in authentic Creole cuisine. Also, be prepared for some heat. This dish is hot. For a milder version, reduce the amount of pepper and omit the jalapenos. However, it should be mentioned that some people prefer to leave the seeds in the jalapenos.

2 tbs basil

½ cup green bell pepper (diced)

1 tsp lemon juice


2 bay leaves

½ cup yellow bell pepper (diced)

4 ounces butter


1 tsp chili powder

½ cup red bell pepper (diced)

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce


2 tbs cornstarch

1 cup celery (diced)

1 tsp hot sauce


2 tbs garlic powder

1 tbs garlic (chopped)

1 cup water


2 tbs onion powder

½ cup green onion (diced)

1 can tomato sauce


½ tsp oregano

½ cup purple onion (diced)

2 cups diced tomatoes (fresh) or 1 can diced tomatoes


2 tbs paprika

1 cup white onion (diced)

2 tbs flour (all-purpose)


2 tbs parsley (chopped)

½ cup yellow onion (diced)

6 cups rice


¼ tsp black pepper

2 jalapeno peppers (seeded and minced)

3 pounds shrimp (peeled and deveined)


½ tsp cayenne pepper






½ tsp white pepper






1 tsp salt (kosher)






1 tsp sugar






½ tsp thyme








In a medium bowl, mix thyme, oregano, chili powder, sugar, onion powder, basil, paprika, and garlic powder. Set aside. This will be the seasoning mix.
In a pot, cook the rice according to the directions on the packaging.
In a second bowl, mix flour and cornstarch. Add water and stir. Set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add bell peppers, onions (except green ones), celery, and jalapeno and sauté until tender. (The green onions will be saved for later.)
Add tomatoes (diced fresh or diced canned), tomato sauce, garlic, and bay leaves.
Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.
Add the flour and cornstarch mixture, the lemon juice, Worcestershire Sauce, and hot sauce.
Cook for approximately five minutes. Stir frequently.
Coat the shrimp with the seasoning mix in step one.
Add the shrimp, and allow to cook for five additional minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through (usually indicated by the shrimp turning pink).
Add green onion and parsley.
Serve over rice.

And there it is. One doesn’t need a hurricane as an excuse to prepare it. Perhaps the best part about this dish is that it stores very well. It can be prepared a day ahead and then heated. Just be aware as it settles it becomes spicier. Enjoy!

What are your Creole comfort foods? And if you try this dish, please share how you like it?

Be sure to visit again next Wednesday to see what’s new in the bayou. Also, if you have any suggestions for topics you would like discussed here, send an email or leave a comment.

 

The Difference

Well, golly gee, Wally, I didn’t mean to go and upset anyone. Yet, that is what I’ve done. So, here I am, making a second post to clarify the first post that I thought was pretty accurate. However, some disagree.

What caused the fuss? Well, because I wrote, “There’s a difference between Cajun and Creole”. And there is. I’m going to stick by that statement, too. But there are some who don’t believe this and challenged me on it. Well, folks, I’m not trying to persuade anyone from their way of thinking, but I’m presenting the facts as I’ve learned, experienced, and have been conveyed over time. This post isn’t being made to be argumentative. However, it is being made to offer clarity on what was written in the previous post.

One of the statements that roughly was disputed was “Cajuns are largely descendants from Nova Scotia”. Please note that the following is a quick and dirty, watered-down synopsis of history. I don’t advise anyone writing a thesis on the subject to use this post as their sole source of information.

Acadians had resided in the area since the early 1600s. Then, the tension between Britain and France grew. The British gave the Acadians an ultimatum to pledge loyalty to Britain. The Acadians refused. In 1755, Acadians (now known as Cajuns) were exiled from Nova Scotia, an eastern province of Canada, by the British. This was known as Le Grand Dérangement (Great Deportation). They were deported to Britain, British colonies, and France. They later migrated on their own (not deported) to Louisiana after the revolution in Saint-Domingue. Louisiana was attractive to the Acadians because, being a French colony, the residents spoke French.

Here’s where it becomes tricky. The term Creole originally was used to describe persons born in or indigenous to Louisiana. This included both white colonists and African slaves who were “native-born”. Over time, the term has been used to refer to persons of mixed European and black descent. To further muddy the water, more distinctions were made: French Creole (European ancestry), Black Creole (primarily African ancestry), Creole of Color (mixed race ancestry), and to describe persons whose ancestry are from Francophone and Hispanic communities. The term is also used to refer to as blended French, African, Russian, Italian, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Native American. Then, others used the term to refer to only free people of color. Sometimes, the term is used to refer to anything “pertaining to New Orleans”. Confused yet?

It’s easier to just accept the old saying: “Cajun isn’t Creole, and Creole isn’t Cajun”, n’est pas?

Tell me what you think. In the meantime, here are other useful reads.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Menuism/cajun-vs-creole_b_1447822.html

https://www.nps.gov/cari/learn/historyculture/creole-history-and-culture.htm

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Creoles.html

 

An Interview: Featured Author

Today, I have the pleasure of sharing Creole Bayou with fellow author and writer, Rob Cooke. Rob also writes about Creole culture; therefore, I was very interested in interviewing him. To my delight, he agreed.

What do you feel is the most important thing your readers should know about you?

My birth name is Robert Cook, and I write under the name of Rob Cooke. I write historical fiction, mainly in historical fiction that depicts the South during the Great Depression. I am a native Nebraskan and have lived here most all my life. I have visited Louisiana only once many years ago as a child. My family and I went to Toledo Bend Reservoir (located on the Sabine River) for a fishing and camping trip. My family wasn’t really interested in any of the local cultures.

What intrigues you to write about Creole culture?

I became interested in Creole culture through the music first. The first time heard Buckwheat Zydeco (11/14/47 – 09/24/16) I was hooked. When I ate Shrimp Creole for the first time that solidified my intrigue with Creole culture and inspired me to learn more.

In the 1980s, I used to watch a Cajun cooking show back in the 1980’s. You probably know the one.  I’m talking about: Louisiana Cooking hosted by Justin Wilson (04/24/14 – 09/05/01). I watched it all the time and learned some of his recipes.

Creole culture intrigues me. I ordered the documentary Liberty Street Blues (1988, directed by André Gladu). It came with a second DVD entitled Maroon: On the Trail of Creoles in North America (2006). After viewing these two DVDs, I realized there is so much to learn. I am still learning. Being old and naïve on Creole culture, I just figured the people intermixed. Although I knew about Jelly Roll Morton (10/20/1890 – 07/10/1941) and others like him, I was unaware of the free people of color. (As a side note, Jelly Roll might have been a cousin of my fictional family in a future story.) I’m currently reading Red River. Old Creole Days by George Washington Cable is on my future reading list.

Do you find it challenging writing about Creole culture? If yes, what is the most challenging about it?

I think the hardest part about writing about Creole culture is there is so much I do not know. I hope I have accurately depicted the culture and not done any injustices. For the most part, I think my characters represent individuals and not a group.

What is your favorite Creole dish?

My favorite dish is Shrimp Creole. However, Crawfish Pie is a close second.

Who is your writing role model and why?

John Steinbeck (02/27/02 – 12/20/68) is my writing hero. He is the guy that wrote about the poor people and made them heroes. In my works, my characters are not pretty or rich. They drive beat up cars and live in shacks. They are employed as laborers, bootleggers, musicians, and prostitutes.

For you, what is the hardest part about writing?

The hardest part about writing for me is making time. I work about fifty hours per week at my day job. However, it gives me time to research. Also, editing drives me crazy.

If you were to have your novel(s) made into a movie, which actor or actresses would you have to play the leading parts?

I would cast Channing Tatum as Bo. Originally, I had envisioned the singer, Ryan Bingham, as Bo. However, at that time, the character wasn’t Creole. Sara Barnum probably would be played by K.D. Aubert. I just discovered her today. She just has the look. Miriam Landry would be played by Gabrielle Union, just because I have a couple of friends who are related to her. Yet, it is hard for me to see my characters as celebrities. When I was browsing for images of Creole belles, I went to CaneRiver.com. Many of the females featured there could be Sara or Miriam.

Aside from writing, what are some of your other interest?

I love music and roots music, from bluegrass, blues, and Zydeco. I am trying to teach myself both banjo and guitar. I know a few licks. I like history. I watch a lot of movies, mostly documentaries that I use as inspiration and topics for writing. As I previously noted, I only have visited Louisiana once, but I would go to Tiger Stadium on a Saturday or Alex Box Stadium during the spring. I’m from Omaha, so you know who my favorite college baseball team is.

What is your favorite place to hangout in Louisiana?

If I could go on a trip though, it would be on a houseboat trip through the bayous near Lafayette or the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge.

Where can readers find you linked to learn more about you? (website)

Follow me on twitter @bobarnum1.  My author page on Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/Rob-Cooke-661803964000938/

Tell the readers briefly about your current writing project(s).

My current project is “The Lost Song of Miriam Landry.” Miriam started as a side character with one scene in Moonshiner’s Legacy. She came back for a second and then tried to take control of Sara’s Swamp Blues. She wanted her own book. Through research, I discovered there was a scandalous murder in 1938 that remains unsolved. The timing was perfect. I always felt Miriam was hiding something big. It is still ways from being completed.

The Journey … The Release

It’s that finally that day, the release of Symphony Amore which includes my short story, “Harmonious Variation”. And as many have heard me say, it has been long in coming. To celebrate, I’m posting an interview I did recently. I was interviewed by Jordan Monroe.

1. Is this your first published story? Is this your first published story in a Sexy Little Pages anthology? 
“Harmonious Variation” is not my first published story. However, it is my first publication in a Sexy Little Pages Anthology. This year, I’ve had two short stories published “Valentine Mistletoe” in Cupid’s Bow (Holiday Heartwarmers) and “Oasis Haze” in Mysterious Hearts (Holiday Heartwarmers). In previous years, I’ve had other publications and will have future publications this year and in early 2018.


2. How long have you been writing erotica? How and why did you start? 
Honestly, I’m not sure how long I’ve been writing erotica. I’ve been writing for years, and I’ve lumped most of what I’ve written under the header of romance without realizing erotica is a genre of its own. Down in bayou country, we like things spicy. That includes our reading material. When I was about fourteen, my family vacationed in Waco, Texas. We stopped at a bookstore, and I bought a romance about a woman becoming trapped in a blizzard and being rescued by a mountain recluse. A lot of the book alluded to things that happened or glossed over it. At the conclusion, I was not a hundred percent satisfied. I read a second book, and it basically did the same thing. I wanted the gaps filled in, and I figured other readers wanted that also. So, I began writing stories with the “gaps” filled in. As I matured, so did the details in my writing.


3. What inspired you to write this story? 
I enjoy challenges, and I’d never written a story about music. I wanted to try. Where I live, there is an old theatre that is in need of repair. I toured the backstage and thought it would be a wonderful backdrop for a story. As I stood there, I wondered what wild things would have happened there over the seventy-five years it has been standing.


4. What were the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of writing it? 
The most challenging was keeping it a short story and not having it develop into a novel. Southerners do love to gab it up and spin colorful stories. The most enjoyable aspect of writing it was the thought/hope it would bring enjoyment to readers. My main purpose of writing is to entertain others.


5. Does your story fit into your body of work? 
Yes. Everything I write in one way or another fit together. All my characters are a little bit whacky and find themselves in quite unusual positions (sometimes literally).


6. What is your favorite line from your story? 
“No, but on the positive side, you get to have big wood vibrating between your thighs.”


7. Being as this is a collection about music, what is your favorite song or piece of music? This is a difficult question since there are so many songs that I love. I would say it’s a tie between “Born for This” by Mandisa because it’s so inspiring and “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones.


8. What can we expect from you in the near future? 
I have two books that will be released soon. Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors will be released by Red Sage Publishing later this year. It is a very steamy romance about what happens when Cajuns and Creoles decide to spice things up on vacation. Out of the Penalty Box will be released in February 2018 by Hot Tree Publishing. It’s a sports erotic romance that will melt hockey rink ice. I also am working on a paranormal short story for the next Holiday Heartwarmers Anthology for October this year. Other projects are in the early stages.


Where to find Symphony Amore:

Amazon: https://mybk.li/symphony
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/symphony-amore
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1276846952
Barnes & Nobel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/symp...

Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler- Festivals

Creole is a very rich culture. And for those willing to concur (because not everyone does) that it is a different culture from the Cajun culture, it also is a culture that people desire to celebrate. Most people have heard of Mardi Gras. For some, Mardi Gras is considered to be no more than the tossing of beads from floats and snazzy costumes. Of course, that is incorrect and does not do Carnival justice. However, Mardi Gras is a big subject with an incredibly long history and not one that will be tackled in this post today. However, it should be noted that the Creole culture is very much present in the Mardi Gras celebration. This post will focus on a few Creole festivals in Louisiana. Please be aware that this is not an exhaustive list and that dates, times, and locations are subject to change by the host. To ensure all information contained here remains accurate, one also should visit the websites of the festivals.

The Creole Tomato Festival has been around for twenty years and occurs the second weekend in June. The first crop of tomatoes for the season generally arrives the first weekend in June. One famous tradition of this festival is put the first tomatoes on auction for the local chefs. This provides for some good eating, don’t you know. For more information about this festival, visit www.frenchmarket.org.

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival is going ten years strong. It is hosted by New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. It features both traditional and contemporary jazz music. Gumbos that can be indulged in include shrimp gumbo, chicken and sausage (andouille, of course) gumbo, oyster gumbo, gumbo z’herbes, and Creole file.

This year’s festival will be from 11/18/17 – 11/19/17 with times of 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM at Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans. The admission for is free, but donations are welcomed. Also, parking is free on 11/18, but on 11/19 there are parking fees. At the Mahalia Jackson Theatre, parking will cost $15.00/vehicle and is cash only. At the Basin Street Station, parking is $10.00/vehicle, and credit card payments will be accepted.

If planning to attend, there are several important things to remember. No outside food or drink, audio/video recording, or pets allowed. For more information, visit www.jazzandhertiage.org.

The Festival Acadians et Creoles in Lafayette is held in Girard Park. Originally developed to pay tribute and highlight Cajun music, this festival has a thirty-six-year tradition. It has extended to include Creole culture.

At this festival, one can experience the deliciousness of bread pudding, pralines, meat pies, catfish, barbecue boudin, seafood and artichoke lasagna, fried soft shell crab, corn and crab bisque, crawfish fettuccini, court-bouillion, wild game jambalaya, and premium liqueurs.

This year the festival will take place on 10/12/17 – 10/15/17. No open fires/fire pits, glass containers, ice chests, skateboards, bicycles, RVs, or pets will be allowed. Learn more about this festival at www.festivalsacadiens.com

For twenty-five years, people have enjoyed the Holy Ghost Creole Festival in Opelousas. This festival hosts an array of music, food, and fun. This year, the festival is scheduled for 11/03/17 – 11/05/17. If planning to attend, please note the time for each day. On 11/03 the time will be 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. On 11/04, the time is scheduled from 7:00 AM- 8:00 AM for the annual race, and the main festivities will be held 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM. On 11/05, the scheduled time is 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM. The parade will be at 1:00 PM on 11/05. For more information, visit http://hgcatholic.org/89.

Please feel free to list information about other Creole festivals.

Weather Break

Mother Nature is being extremely nasty this week with hurricanes, tropical systems, and wildfires. It is difficult to focus on anything else, especially in an area that knows firsthand the destruction of floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. So, today, I’m only posting a link to hurricane updates, information, tips, and preparedness.

And remember, Price gouging during a natural disaster is against the law. If you notice prices jumping before, during or after a hurricane and believe it to be an act of price gouging, report the business to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508. Additionally, if you can, consider opening your home to others.

Additionally, if you can, consider opening your home to others. Hotels can be expensive, and likely, booked. But honestly, it doesn’t get much worse than sitting in a drab hotel room watching the news flash pictures of your community and neighborhoods getting pounded by weather. The not knowing what will be left when it’s all over is overwhelming. Being able to spend that time in the home and comfort of distant loved ones, or even strangers that have reached out can make a huge the difference. If you’re evacuating, be sure t

If you’re evacuating, be sure to have an evacuation plan. Please don’t wait until last and risk being trapped or stranded.minute. Put vital telephone numbers in your contact list and take important papers with you. Tell someone else your plan in case something goes wrong or not as planned. Bring pets inside, and most importantly, stay safe everyone.

https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes